[Beltiras]

I might be forced to in the fall. There's a conference within my industry held in San Fransisco in the fall. There really is no substitute elsewhere within a reasonable timeframe. I plan to have no devices with me on the flight. I'll buy a cheap Android and a burner SIM. Before flying home I'll toss the phone.

"Give me liberty or give me death" has been subverted into "Give me security and I'll give you my freedom".

[tajen]

It's all up to you. But I personally chose not to go to US conferences because of the TSA.

The risk of being jailed is real: If you chuckle while they ask questions then lose your temper because he's not happy and you lack sleep; If you have a false name on Facebook (Are you lying about your identity to any US company?); If you know the wrong person; If you've watched underage porn (knowing that even with above-age porn, you don't have any of the actors' ID card to prove it); If a person claims you've harassed her at the conference... Many reasons for your life to become miserable.

The idea of risking jail and sponsoring these rules against aliens far outweighs the advantage of going to a conference, at least for me.

Surprise: This year, the main conference in my domain, is organized in Vienna (CH) instead of SF!

[jellicle]

Yeah, the U.S. throws people in jail because women claim they were harassed at conferences all the time. The risk is real!

[tajen]

In USA harassment doesn't have to be proven for action to be taken. Look at the former GitHub and FoxNews CEOs, or Adria Richard's targets at PyCon, or Douglas Crockford at Nodevember: Nothing was ever reviewed by a judge, it's all just claims. 5 cases from the top of my mind. 2 other ones in personal acquaintances.

[waqf]

> Vienna (CH)

Er, are you referring to Vienna (AT)?

[Beltiras]

Lucky you. My favourite conferences are held in Amsterdam and London. I much prefer those to US ones of course.